This was the last week of 2018. We flew to San Antonio and drove the rental car to McAllen, Texas. Why? We went to find and photograph rare butterflies of the Lower Rio Grande Valley. Texas. Butterflies that you would never see in Pennsylvania, Georgia, Illinois, Nevada, Oregon, Montana, Ohio or Virginia.
This was at the National Butterfly Center, in Mission Texas near the border wall. Bingo! This Malachite butterfly, that Erato Heliconian (!!!), the Red Rim butterfly, Mexican Bluewing, Tropical Leafwing, the list of new and rare to Very Rare was long, and exciting. So much new, so little same old, same old.
We recently raised the question, do you think that we should travel long and far, or should we avoid those airport terminals, crowds, TSA looking at me (I served) as if I was a potential I don’t know what? The rental car that I treat better than my own (you let me use your car, I treat it like gold) and those many drives through places unfamiliar.
Comes now this question. What would you rather see, hard to score images of butterflies you’ve never seen before, even if those images are sometimes less than ideal OR photos of butterflies that you may have seen before, those well east of the Mississippi River, but photos that capture very fresh, very beautiful individuals?
Than comes the followup questions? Are you happy to see images of butterflies in the HolyLand? I’ve gone to Israel almost every year since 2008. Sometimes I’ve posted an image of a HolyLand butterfly that is really hard to get, only to find tepid feedback from y’all.
I sure hope you read this, and hope that you share.
Jeff
Winged Beauty Butterflies 
Hi Jeff, I too have been following you for a couple years now, and appreciate any and all photos of the lepidoptera, no matter where they may reside. One reason is you serve as our eyes to the world and its beauty, especially when I (we) cannot make the journeys. Also, when I do have the rare opportunity to venture out beyond my home turf, time is usually limited as is the knowledge to know where to venture to look for our friends, and beyond that, your eyes and photo equipment are better than mine and are able to capture them in all their natural beauty. Finally, your work is not only great to look at, but it is also inspiring to us who are learning about the lepidoptera and trying to take good natural shots of them. Keep doing what you are doing and love so much.
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Thank you Adam. Isn’t it just astounding how much diversity there is? Each time we meet a new butterfly, do we not pause, to marvel at how much more there is to the world, so much more than we ever thought there was out there??
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Amen, you said it all.
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I am particularly happy to see your images from Israel and thereabouts. I visited the area back in 1978 and 1983. As a believer I suppose that when Messiah returns it will be visited by people of all nations. For various reasons I am interested in all of its flora and fauna. As for what I would like to see, a couple are fairly local but I’ve never had the opportunity to get out and look for them: Sonoran Blue and Great Arctic. Even Northern Cloudywing and Common Sootywing are quite scarce around here, would love to see either. Also Satyr Comma and Arctic Skipper. I don’t get out much …
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Thank you, Jeffrey. This is a very thoughtful, appreciated Comment. Older than some, I continue to go out there, seeking. When I come upon a fresh, “Uncommon” butterfly, Oh! how exciting that is, and the juice to that is I will have the opportunity to share. TBTold, when I see that only 40 or 50 come to see such, I quickly remind myself, that that is . . . Good, Very Good.
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I just like to see anything with the surprises of a species that is rare or ones I will never see. They are all worthy and beautiful
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Me too, Sue Allie. They all are, even when worn, which always makes me admire their puck! flying about, earnest as there were when they first took wing. Right again, about seeing “rare or ones I will never see.” It’s a rush when you see a new species for the first time. It’s like meeting a very famous person who you admire, and enjoying an unrushed 5-minute chat with them. It just leaves you pleased, so very pleased.
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Hi Jeff,
As a fellow blogger, I know that it can be a bit frustrating to not get much feedback about what you are posting. As for me, I’ve been super-busy lately and haven’t had as much time to spend on my own blogs or those I usually visit. So please don’t take personally any lack of comments from me. Sometimes I’m just taking a quick look at the butterfly photo, other times I read what you have written too and intend to comment…but it is late and so on.
However, clearly you are wanting some feedback so I’ll give you some. I love all of your butterflies, the locals and the Middle Eastern, the common and the very rare. So my recommendation is that you do worry less about pleasing us and seek the path that gives glory to our Creator. Share His beauty and your experience of it. The rest are details.
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Your beautiful pictures of butterflies I don’t usually see are appreciated. Of course, if they are from other countries, all the better, Jeff! Giving a background along with your pictures takes me along on your journeys so please keep ‘journeying’ on and sharing the ride.
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